Chemisette with box pleated collar

On Thursday night I ran a chemisette sewing class and showed two methods of putting together a chemisette.

This is my handsewn version featuring a box-pleated collar and it is now for sale in the Jane Austen Festival Australia dress store. You can make your own using this pattern.

Upcoming Historical Fashion Classes in Canberra

2013 Historical Fashion Classes in Canberra, Australia

Our facility is a private and self-contained environment in central Canberra. Some of the Workshops offered in the past have been Elizabethan, 18th century and Regency stays, Victorian corsets, Elizabethan gowns, 1780s gowns, regency gowns, victorian bustle gowns, regency tailcoats, bonnets and chemises from all eras. As always, your continued patronage and support have allowed us to bring you these workshops. Visit our 2013 Events page to find an event to wear your new outfit.

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Creating an 1890s wardrobe.

Fridays, 6.30pm - 9.00pm, Yarralumla (level 1)

26 July - 23 August 2013

Join Aylwen making a wardrobe for 1890s dancing. We will make undergarments and a gown with day and evening bodice options.

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5-6-7 October 2013 : announcement coming soon regarding a Historic Costume & Dance Weekend in Canberra over the public holiday long weekend.

Venue: All Saints Ainslie, 9-15 Cowper St, Ainslie ACT 2602

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How to choose a class appropriate to your sewing level

Level 1 
Beginner level. Participant should have basic hand sewing skills and some knowledge of historical clothing. You may or may not have made a costume using a commercial pattern. If using a sewing machine you should be familiar with your machine and have had it serviced recently.

Level 2
This is an intermediate level. Good hand and/or machine sewing skills are required. You should have produced an article of hstorical clothing using a pattern (or draping) and have fitted that piece of clothing. You should have some familiarity with historical attire of the era the class is focusing on. Ladies should own their own stays/corset and shift.

Level 3
This is an advanced class. Solid hand and/or machine sewing skills are required. It is best that you have taken an intermediate course with us.

Level 4
This is an advanced plus class. Participants in this course should have already taken more then one fitting class and be familiar thru observation with the garment being produced. Student should be very comfortable with the historical fashion style and should own all appropriate underpinnings, such as stays, hoops or rolls, shift etc. For men they should own a properly made shirt, breeches and waistcoat.

Challenging Projects

From 23 April 2012 I'm running a Challenging Historical Sewing Series on Monday evenings. The price is being kept low, numbers small and there will be an expectation that we diary our progress and avoid procrastination. This is where you bring out the gorgeous photos or fashion prints and start making! We don't teach, we support each other. For more information see http://aylwen.blogspot.com/p/classes.html

2012 Regency Sewing Classes

2012 Historical Sewing Class Schedule 

Yarralumla, ACT 

Beginners Regency Sewing with Aylwen Gardiner-Garden [max. 4 students]
Over 6 evening sessions Aylwen will teach you the basic sewing skills that will enable you to go on and build your own Regency wardrobe. You will learn how to read a commercial pattern and get your correct size. You will begin with a cotton regency dress.
Cost $165. Thursday evenings from February 2nd: 6pm – 8.30pm


Beyond Beginners Dressmaking with Aylwen Gardiner-Garden [max. 4 students]
This series is designed for those who have mastered the basics, know how to sew straight, finish seams but need help with reading instructions, pattern layout and sewing techniques. In this class you will construct a Spencer incorporating some of the following techniques:- buttonholes, facing and other techniques not learnt in the introduction class.
Cost $165. Thursday evenings from March 8th: 6pm – 8.30pm


Easter School Holiday Sewing with Aylwen Gardiner-Garden - Monday 23 April-Friday 27 April
5 fun sessions from 2.30pm - 5.00pm over 5 days. Aylwen will guide and encourage beginner sewers through the finer points of making a Regency chemisette and reticule. Pattern included.
Cost $165 (Students will need to be competent with their own machine.)


2-day pre-festival Regency bonnet making workshop 31 March - 1 April 2012
Includes pattern and materials. Please bring your own sewing kit and packed lunch.

Purchase Regency Sewing Classes Tickets

Beginners starting Feb. 2 $165.00 AUD Beyond Beginners starting Mar. 8 $165.00 AUD Easter School Holidays starting April 23 $165.00 AUD Regency Bonnet Weekend 31 March-1 April $150.00 AUD

Men's Regency Tailcoat Workshop, 21-22 May 2011

Aylwen Gardiner-Garden is running a one-off men's regency tailcoat workshop on the 21-22 May 2011 in Canberra, Australia, using the Country Wives brand new Regency men's M-notch and roll collar tailcoat pattern that has just been released in the US and which is already receiving good reviews on its fit, historical accuracy and construction techniques.

Country Wives has just released a brand new Regency men's M-notch and roll collar tailcoat pattern.

This workshop is open to both men and women who have sewing experience, a working sewing machine and time to get the project finished. Participants are welcome to sew the project by hand as was done historically, but may have to finish it in their own time.

If you wish to order a custom-made tailcoat or register interest in a future class, Aylwen is currently taking orders.

       

   

Sewing tempters for JAFA 2012

Jane Austen Festival Australia has released news of some of their hands-on, limited-attendance sewing classes for 2012. This festival is run in Canberra, Australia, every April and features something for everyone - from sewing, costume analysis, talks about Jane Austen's books, Jane Austen's life and letters, Jane Austen's love of dance, dance workshops, soldiers, balls, food, teas, concerts, theatre and more!


To tempt us, the list of workshops below with a variety of teachers from around Australia  looks very comprehensive. And because of their popularity, in 2012 you will be asked to choose just 2 workshops before putting your name on waiting lists for the others. 

Sewing Classes

Sewing lessons are now available for beginner/intermediate level sewers who wish to make a historical costume.

Hourly rates are as follows:
Private lesson, student brings all supplies (my machine may be used) $20.00/hr.
Semi-private lesson, students bring all supplies (my machines may be used) $15.00/hr./student.
Small group (3 students), students purchase/bring all supplies (my machines may be used) $10.00/hr./student.

Private lesson, all materials supplied $30.00/hr.
Semi-private/group lesson, 2-3 students, all materials supplied $25.00/hr./student.